Jay Fiedler '94 turned in a strong performance at quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night in his continuing effort to play his way into a roster spot on the National Football League team.
The Eagles lost the preseason game at home to the New York Jets, 34-24.
Fiedler is battling second-year player Preston Jones for the third-string quarterback position.
Fiedler, who was signed by the Eagles as a non-drafted free agent in late April, played two quarters against the Jets. He completed 9 of 18 passes for 108 yards.
In an interview Thursday from the Eagle's training camp in West Chester, Penn. , Fiedler said he thought the game was "a big test … where I can show I can be an NFL backup."
Fiedler actually posted comparable numbers to Eagles starter Randall Cunningham and Cun-ningham's backup, Bubby Brister.
Cunningham was 9 for 14. He threw for 88 yards and gave up one interception. Brister was 7 for 11 for 69 yards.
Jones did not play Saturday night.
In an earlier interview, Fiedler said there was no animosity between him and Jones, even though they are fighting for the same position on the team and only one of them will make it.
"You know it's a little different than college," he said. "We're competing for our livelihood right now. On the field and off the field, we don't hold any grudges. We know there's nothing we can do against the other person, so we go out and play."
Fiedler said Thursday that training camp is going well.
"Oh it's going real well," he said. "I'm getting work in practice every day, mostly on the scout team. Right now things are going well."
In Fiedler's first appearance last week against the Chicago Bears, he only played one quarter and complete three of six passes for 40 yards.
"I thought I did well," Fiedler said. "I thought I had some good plays." He said he liked the "experience of getting into an NFL game. You really can learn from that situation."
Although he acknowledged that NFL football is a quantum leap from what he was used to in the Ivy League, he said he was not overwhelmed by the level of play.
"Well, it wasn't much different that what I expected. It is a lot different than playing for the Ivy League, that's for sure," he said. "The games are a heck of a lot faster and the players are bigger and faster, but it's still a football game."
The Eagles had been having two practices a day since Fielder arrived in camp on July 19, but Fielder said things are starting to get into a more normal routine.
"Right now, it's starting to lighten up a little bit as we get into a game schedule," he said. "I'm getting a few reps in there. Mostly they're looking at everything I do."
In the Eagles' first preseason game, Jones played the quarter before Fiedler, going 6 for 13 for 50 yards and an interception.
Fiedler said he still thinks he has a "good shot" of making the team. If he does make the team, he will earn $108,000 this year and $135,000 next year.
The Eagles plan to trim their preseason roster to 60 players on August 23 and make their final cuts to get down to 53 players on August 28.
Mike Gilbert, a spokesman for the Eagles, said the decision on the third-string quarterback will probably be made in the final round of cuts.
Gilbert said the Eagles like Fiedler because of his "strong arm and his presence and what he has accomplished at college."
In Fiedler's junior year, he led Dartmouth to the Ivy League Championship, throwing for 2,748 yards with 25 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He was named Ivy League player of the year and led all Division I-AA quarterbacks in passing efficiency.
He started off his senior year more slowly, before catching fire and leading the Big Green to three incredible come-from-behind victories. In his last five games, Fielder chucked 15 touchdowns and an average of 305 yards a game.
Fiedler also had several strong outings in post-season all-star games. Gilbert said the Eagles were happy to snatch Fielder up when he slipped through the draft.
Fiedler is not the only Ivy League star trying to make the jump to the NFL this year.
Princeton University running back Keith Elias, last year's Ivy League Most Valuable Player and Fiedler's arch-rival throughout his college career, is trying to secure a roster spot as a running back or special teams player with the New York Giants.
Elias rushed for 35 yards on nine carries with a six-yard touchdown run in the New York Giants' game against the San Diego Chargers on Saturday in Berlin.
Elias has been playing significant minutes on the Giants' special teams.
